Great win but was England game needed?

2:27pm Thursday 20th November 2008

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Paul Heckingbottom column: I’m not sure of the point of England playing a friendly during the week.

The season is busy enough anyway without cramming in extra games for the sake of it.

If there are qualifying group matches going on at the same time and they are the odd team out, then I can understand arranging another game.

That’s time specially allocated by FIFA for internationals so it’s a bit different. But I don’t understand just shoving all these friendlies in during the middle of the season.

Lads could have had a week to recover from little knocks but instead they are playing another game. Time could have been better spent resting up rather than turning out for a friendly which could just make the injury worse.

Players will always want to represent their country because it’s the pinnacle of your career.

As John O’Shea said this week, Sir Alex Ferguson would never stand in the way of any of his squad wanting to play internationals and that’s the way it should be.

But you have to wonder about arranging these type of games at this stage. You can see why there can be a problem between clubs and country.

People will play through the pain if it’s a meaningful international game but, when it’s just a friendly, it makes more sense simply to pull out. It can be a no-win situation for everyone.

But I did watch the Germany game and it looked like everyone enjoyed it. It was the right time for the players who want to stake their claim. Fabio Capello has an established side who are doing well with four wins on the spin, so there was no pressure on the boys coming into the team.

I thought Michael Carrick and Stuart Downing did very well in midfield and I liked the look of Agbonlahor up front. I thought all of them took their chance.

It shows a bit of depth in the England squad now. Of course, you expect the lads who’ve been playing regularly to come straight back in next time but Fabio knows he’s got adequate replacements waiting in the wings.